Sounds of Modification — “Balloon Man”: Brace for the Obscure (60s rock)! — July 30, 2024

THE GREATEST SONGS OF THE 1960s THAT NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD

1,287) Sounds of Modification — “Balloon Man”

A sunshine pop/baroque pop/pop psych/toytown tribute to balloon men everywhere that’s liable to whisk you up into the air without you even knowing it. The “Man” is “frothy pop-oriented ‘product'”. (RDTEN1, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sounds-of-modification/sounds-of-modification/) Is that bad? Talk about being whisked!

This “[b]aroque psych band, hailing from Long Island NY, recorded and released only [one] album in 1968 at Jubilee label [including “Balloon Man”]. Beautiful harmonies and arragements from good musicians”. (marios, http://rockasteria.blogspot.com/2018/07/sounds-of-modification-sounds-of.html?m=1) It “pump[ed] out period pop with nice splashes of psych, harmony and baroque pop moves and outfits their arrangements with enough creative ingredients to keep things interesting on the ear.” (recorddigger, https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sounds-of-modification/sounds-of-modification/)

About the Sounds, RDTEN1 writes (somewhat ambivalently):

Sounds of Modification was one of Long Island’s contribution to the flood of mid-’60s pop bands that straddled “summer of love” styled “sunshine” pop and late inning pop-psych influences. The group featured the talents of horn player Joe Cavalea, drummer Mike “Butch” Cavouto, bassist Bob Dorsa, guitarist Frank Porcelli and keyboard player Pete Maletta. Having begun to attract some attention playing local New York clubs, dances and colleges (The Bridal Patch, The Fox Theatre, Thee Ye Olde Red Lion Tavern, Hofstra’s College), they found a mentor in the form of Bob Gallo (of Four Seasons fame). Gallo helped them score a recording contract with Jerry Blaine’s New York based Jubilee Records. Produced by Gallo who also wrote nine of the album’s ten tracks, 1968’s “Sounds of Modification” was a competent and professional debut, but under Gallo’s direction little of the band’s true identify came through. Speculation on my part, but I’m guessing Gallo saw an opportunity to push his songs on the band in the hope of scoring royalties. Shame they weren’t given an opportunity to record original material, or at least covers of their own choice.  The band also lacked a first rate singer (perhaps explaining the multiple “group” vocals), but were clearly talented. Drummer Cavouto and horn player Cavalea were the stand outs. While the majority of tunes . . . offered up little more than frothy pop-oriented “product” there were a couple of stand out performances. The album’s most psych tinged offerings . . . were also the strongest numbers. Imagine a weaker Association . . . .

https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/sounds-of-modification/sounds-of-modification/

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